The Skyrme model

We review the recent developments on the Skyrme model in the context of QCD, and analyze their relevance to low-energy phenomenology. The fundamentals of chiral symmetry and PCAC are presented, and their importance in effective chiral models of the Skyrme type discussed. The nature and properties of skyrmions are thoroughly investigated, with particular stress on the basic role of the Wess-Zumino term. The conventional Skyrme model is extended to the low-lying vector meson resonances, and the rudiments of vector meson dominance are elucidated. A detailed account of the static and dynamical properties of nucleons and δ-isobars is presented. The relevance of the Skyrme model to the nuclear many-body problem is outlined and its importance for boson exchange models stressed.